Animal Rescue Operator Issued Cease And Desist Order

In yet another development in the Melanie Morrison case, the operator of Animal Welfare of Surry County has been issued a cease and desist order by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Last month Surry County Animal Control officers seized 23 dogs from local animal rescue group leader Melanie Morrison. Morrison was recently charged with 23 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, though she maintains that the animals were well cared for.

A letter provided to The News this week by the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center, which oversees animal control operations in the county, reveals that the veterinary division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services asked Morrison ?to CEASE and DESIST operation of an animal shelter and boarding kennel immediately upon receipt of this letter.? The letter was dated August 12.

The letter stated: ?To date you have not applied for either registration as an animal shelter or licensing as a boarding kennel even though you have been inspected and have been provided with forms and instructions on how to become registered as an animal shelter.?

The letter stated that registration is required for the operation of an animal shelter in North Carolina, and a license is required to operate a boarding kennel. The department stated to Morrison in the letter that she was to cease and desist operations because she had ?never applied for either registration or licensing and you have failed to act in a timely fashion to come into compliance.?

Morrison claims that she did send in the forms, including paperwork that had to be signed by a veterinarian. Morrison also said she made modifications to her home to be able to obtain the license. She said she guesses the state cannot find the original forms she sent in. Morrison said she was told that she can send them in again to try to obtain a license. She thinks of her non-profit operation as mostly a rescue organization, but she said such organizations have to have kennel licenses regardless of the exact type of work they are doing.

According to a report provided on the department of agriculture?s Web site, Morrison?s home was inspected on April 18. The ?approved? box was checked at the bottom of the page, and the narrative said, ?OK to license.? It also stated: ?Records are in order.? The report noted that the floors had been repainted and the deck had been scheduled for repair. Morrison was also to repaint enclosures showing rust.

Though the inspection appeared favorable, the report was listed in the private shelters section of the Web site under the ?Unlicensed Facilities? header. Lee Hunter, director of the animal welfare section of the department of agriculture?s veterinary division, could not be reached Wednesday for clarification.

The letter dated Aug. 12 states that Morrison?s facility failed inspections conducted on July 27, the same day that animal control officers seized the 23 dogs. It is unclear who called in the department of agriculture, which showed up for an inspection while animal control was there. Animal control officers responded to an anonymous complaint about Morrison, and the house and cages had not yet been cleaned at the time they arrived. Morrison said the investigation was a matter of bad timing. The charges against Morrison stated that she is believed to have deprived the animals of sustenance, but Morrison said all of the dogs were being fed high quality puppy food. She said she had just taken in several of the animals, which were all undergoing treatment or had appointments with a vet.

The cease and desist letter stated that the department has the authority to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 on Morrison if she is found to be operating an animal shelter. Morrison said animal control officers left seven foster animals at her house, but she has not been told that she cannot keep those dogs. She said she is not seeking out abandoned pets or sick pets from shelters at this point.

Morrison has the right to appeal the order and apply for licensure, but Morrison said she does not have any plans to pursue a license at this time.

?Until all of this is resolved, I?m not doing anything,? Morrison remarked. ?After that, I?m not sure.?